Men's Basketball

Owls Win in Casciano's Debut

#10 Aaron Hutchins

Nov 15, 2011

CASTINE, Maine – Aaron Hutchins (So./E. Millinocket, ME) hit 4 three-pointers and scored 14 overall to lead Maine-Presque Isle to a 45-32 win over Maine Maritime Academy in the season opener for both squads. The Owls (1-0) three-point shooting was critical in securing their first win on the Mariners (0-1) floor since January of 2007. The win was the first at UMPI for Owls' coach Jim Casciano.

The Owls hit on 8-of-23 treys on the night. Hutchins and Kyle Corrigan (Jr./Caribou, Maine) accounted for the first pair opening a 6-2 lead a little over eight minutes in. Corrigan finished the night with 11. The Mariners tied it 6-6, but a Patrick Manifold (Jr./Great Yarmouth, U.K.) layup put the Owls in front for good.

Michael Warner (So./Norwich, U.K.) and Brad Trask (Jr./Easton, ME) each hit threes to stretch the lead to the largest first-half differential, eight points, on both occasions. Warner made his mark in the game on the glass pulling down a game-high 11 rebounds. His Owls led 20-13 at the break.

After a poor shooting performance in the first half, the rim seemed to open up a bit more for UMPI in the second stanza. The Owls clicked on 10-of-24 shots (41.7%) in the second half after a 7-of-28 effort (25%) in the first 20 minutes. MMA's shooting woes only improved slightly in the second half, clicking on 8-of-28 (28.6%) in the second half, after a 6-of-28 (21.4%) first half.

"It was a typical early season game with both offenses struggling," said Casciano. "But I was happy with how our defense played."

UMPI will travel to Waterville for Thomas' tipoff tourney on Friday, November 18th.